Then shopping malls started locating nearby, "and the 'mom & pop' stores took a major hit," he said.

Oak Park Avenue is still the village's Main Street, covering a little more than two miles. It stretches north to 165th Street, where some houses have been converted to commercial properties, and south to 183rd Street, where there are larger enterprises and apartment buildings.

Unlike stores located in or near high traffic-volume areas, the approximately 150 businesses on and around Oak Park Avenue draw customers and clients for a particular store, restaurant, bar or professional service.

"It's a destination," State Farm Insurance Agent Jim Fuentes told other Main Street Commission members last week during a discussion of ways to improve the downtown's viability as a business district.

Village Trustee Dave Seaman agreed. "Oak Park Avenue has got to compete as a niche market. It's got to be its own niche," he said.

Commission Chairman Mike Clark, who owns Ed & Joe's Pizzeria, said annual village events, including the Holiday Market, Music in the Plaza and the Easter Parade, bring potential customers to the avenue. But it's up to the businesses to take advantage. Some do and some don't.

Commissioners noted Rubino's Italian Import store, a short car drive from the plaza, sends representatives to the events to promote the store. Jack Cochonour, business development manager for Bettenhausen Dodge, said the dealership had Christmas trees on display at its Oak Park Avenue location, as well as the two other dealerships.

Local families came in to take their photos in front of a tree, he said, adding, "We're like the Marshall Field's of Tinley Park."

Cochonour said community involvement and maintaining close customer contact is essential.

"We have a 24,000-person database," he said.

Beth Fahey, co-owner of the much smaller Creative Cakes, said she and her sister-partner maintain a 7,000-person database and in December set aside a day to allow amateur bakers to use the oven to bake Christmas cookies.

The commission's goal at this time is to get businesses to share ideas about what marketing approaches work for them.

The village has bankrolled some efforts — the website downtowntinley.com, an email-marketing consultant and a Facebook page.

Zabrocki had some ideas about what would boost Oak Park Avenue.

"I'd love to see a small, specialized grocery store and boutique stores," he said. "You have a population base there, and those things will pop up."